Emergency declared in Saturn as 58 tourists fall ill with food poisoning at Hotel Neko
Authorities in Constanța county activated a red emergency response plan on Tuesday evening after 58 guests, including 11 children, suffered severe food poisoning symptoms at the all-inclusive Hotel Neko in Saturn.
Emergency response and hospitalizations
Emergency services in Constanța county activated the Red Intervention Plan on Tuesday evening, 1 September, around 20:00 following dozens of emergency calls from the all-inclusive Hotel Neko in the Saturn seaside resort. Paramedics and medical teams evaluated 58 guests suffering from acute food poisoning symptoms, including severe vomiting, high fever, chills, and stomach cramps. The affected group comprised 47 adults and 11 children among approximately 700 tourists staying at the venue. Emergency responders deployed one fire vehicle, three multiple-casualty transport vehicles, three minibuses, a SMURD ambulance, and four county ambulance crews to manage the crisis. Paramedics treated most patients inside their hotel rooms, while six individuals, including a pregnant woman and a mother with two children, were transferred to the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Constanța for specialized treatment.
- Adults
- 47 people
- Children
- 11 people
Inspection findings and kitchen closure
Follow-up inspections conducted overnight by sanitary veterinary inspectors and consumer protection officers revealed widespread health violations in the hotel kitchen. The National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA) and the Constanța Veterinary Directorate (DSVSA) had already inspected the establishment three days earlier, issuing a 10,000 lei fine and ordering corrective actions that were never carried out. Inspectors found unhygienic workstations, dirty kitchen equipment, deficient cold storage units, and an absence of a functional staff locker room. During the overnight checks, officials recorded internal refrigerator temperatures reaching nearly 16 degrees Celsius instead of the mandated two to five degrees, finding raw eggs stored next to unsealed products and hummus kept at 15 degrees.
DSVSA Constanța director Corina Ivanciu stated that the hotel had disregarded earlier compliance requirements.
The facility was previously sanctioned three days ago and had measures ordered for remediation. It failed to meet its obligations under the inspection report. The hygiene issues were serious and unaddressed.
ANSVSA president Alexandru Bociu also condemned the venue management for disregarding previous notices.
It is unacceptable for an economic operator to ignore our warnings and endanger people's health.
- Inspectors issue a 10,000 lei fine and set remediation requirements for kitchen hygiene.
- Emergency calls prompt the activation of the Red Intervention Plan at Hotel Neko.
- Inspectors uncover unaddressed violations, confiscate 523 kilograms of food, and close the kitchen.
- Consumer protection authorities issue 100,000 lei in fines and propose a six-month suspension.
Penalties, refunds, and kitchen defense
The Constanța County Consumer Protection Commissariat (CJPC) issued four fines totaling 100,000 lei, suspended food preparation services, and proposed a formal six-month operational shutdown. ANSVSA issued an additional 17,000 lei fine and withdrew 81 kilograms of meat, fish, sliced cold cuts, and cheese, along with 300 eggs, bringing total confiscated food to 523 kilograms. Witnesses reported that hotel employees attempted to discard carts of suspect food into outdoor dumpsters behind the building before inspectors completed sampling. CJPC head Horia Constantinescu ordered immediate full refunds for hospitalized patients and their accompanying family members, allowing remaining guests to claim refunds for food or their entire holiday.
Head chef Marius Tudorache rejected responsibility for the outbreak and blamed the dietary habits of the guests.
In the evening, after we clear the buffet, all food is thrown in the trash. You are sick because you drink a lot of cold juices, you eat hot soups. You brought food from home.
Resort oversight and industry trends
The incident prompted discussions regarding monitoring standards across Romanian coastal resorts during peak holiday periods. Traian Bădulescu, spokesperson for the National Association of Travel Agencies (ANAT), noted that travel agencies conduct routine visits before and during the season, holding the authority to remove non-compliant hotels from booking catalogs. He stated that the total number of all-inclusive hotels along the Romanian seaside increased from 54 to 70 during this season, requiring heightened quality control. While public health officials proceed with epidemiological investigations to identify the exact pathogen, affected tourists began checking out early to return home.
